“Would you rather I didn’t join your family for brunch?” I asked carefully.
Hawk pushed his food around for a couple of seconds, then scooped up another bite. He didn’t answer until after he’d chewed and swallowed. “My family is a lot.”
I slid my foot across the floor until I could hook it around his ankle. “I’m aware.”
“I love them. But they are…there’s so many of them and they’re loud and nosy.” That last bit was said with his trademark half smirk that was almost a smile.
“Sure. I’ve noticed.” I quirked my lips up, and his lips curved into three-quarters of a smile. Closer but not close enough. “I’d love to join you all, if you want me there. And if you don’t, not yet, then I have no compunction about using Marielle and Elisa as an excuse to decline for now.”
I hoped my choice of words show him that, while I was willing to take things slowly and at his pace, I wasn’t going to keep myself separate from his family forever. I could practically see his mind working as he mulled that over, and then he finally gave me a real smile. I felt like I won the lottery, the jittery excitement jangling in my stomach. Maybe it was a good thing Hawk so rarely unleashed that smile. It was lethal in the best ways.
“I see what you did there,” he said, and even though his expression grew serious, the amusement was still in his eyes.“To borrow your phrase, should we address the elephant in the room?”
I wasn’t sure which elephant he was talking about, but whatever he wanted to talk about, I was game. “Sure.”
He nodded. “You don’t want this to be just a one night thing.”
“Nope.”
Hawk waited for a beat or two, maybe waiting to see if I was going to elaborate. But I wanted to know where his head was at, so I didn’t. This was his show.
“And what about the reasons we decided on ‘just friends?’” He asked after a breath.
I shrugged. “It’s still true. I’m far too old for you and we do have a working relationship. But we’re also grown ass adults who can make informed decisions. Look, here’s the straight truth; the first time I talked to you, your voice gave me the shivers. And we definitely pushed at each other. But for me, almost from the start, it was about poking at you to get you to react. I see the passion there, Hawk. And you're kind and have a huge heart. And you’re sexy as hell. So fucking hot. So yeah, I want to take you to bed and do all kinds of things to you. But I also want to sit and talk with you. Learn how your mind works. See where this could possibly go. My gut says go for it, and I generally trust my gut.”
“That was quite the monologue,” he said before snapping his mouth shut. Hawk was quiet for a good minute, staring at me for at least half that time before he picked up his wine and drank it down. I waited, not exactly patient. I had to consciously keep myself from holding my breath.
Eventually, he reached across the table and grabbed my hand. He didn’t look at me and his voice was soft when he said, “I’m okay with trying. But I need slow. I need careful. Because my past experience is that trusting my gut, with men, isn’t the best choice.”
“I’m more than fine with slow and careful,” I assured him. “But I need you to be more than okay with trying. If you’re not all on board, we wait until you are. And if you don’t get there, then we don’t get there.”
“I want to try.” His voice was soft but firm. I studied his face for a good long moment before I decided to take him at his word.
“Good. Me too.” I lifted his hand to my mouth and kissed his knuckles, then stood and gathered our empty plates. “Ready for dessert? I have panna cotta in the fridge.”
“Later,” he said as I set the dishes in the sink. I’d wash them later. But then his next words had me whipping around. “We can have dessert in bed.”
I stared at him, and I was sure my eyes were wide. But he had a sexy little grin on his mouth, and he’d stood too, thumbs tucked in his front pockets, hands framing his dick. He made my mouth water and I couldn’t wait to take a bite out of him.
“What about—” I had to stop and clear my throat. “What about slow and careful?”
“In matters of the heart, snail’s pace. Bodies, on the other hand….” He ran his tongue along his bottom lip. “I want you in me.”
I stalked across the floor before I even made the conscious decision to move. I took Hawk’s face in my hands, getting lost for a moment in those gorgeous eyes of his. I saw nothing there that hinted at any sort of doubt. He wanted this, right now with me, and the rest would happen as it did.
I slid a hand to the back of his neck, pulling him forward. Hawk came willingly, eyes flicking back and forth between my mouth and my eyes. When he pressed against me, I nearly moaned. He was so seductive and didn’t even know it.
Then again, that little smirk appeared so maybe he did.
I kissed the expression right off his face, delving in with my tongue to not miss an inch. He tasted like garlic and ginger, witha hint of wine, and I was sure I tasted the same. Hawk gripped my shirt, trying to pull me closer, and I obliged as I adjusted the angle of our mouths to fit together better.
Reaching down, I skated my fingers over his ass and then the back of his thigh as far as I could reach, then yanked up and hooked his leg over my hip. Hawk wobbled, not expecting it, and scrabbled for purchase before his fingers sank into my shoulders. I held him steady, and he wound his arms around my neck. I could not get close enough. I wanted him all over me.
“Bed. Now. Before I take you over this table,” I ground out, lifting my mouth only far enough to speak, not willing to be parted from him.
“That could be fun,” he said with a breathless laugh.
Oh, he was feeling playful, was he? I could get used to that. Instead of answering, I tilted his head to the side and attacked his neck, making growly noises as I pretended to chew. He squirmed, and the laugh that escaped him was just a touch desperate. I latched on for real, sucking for a moment and nibbling a little. I didn’t want to leave a mark because we hadn’t discussed that, but I sure as hell would have loved to.
